I've turned 19!!! It was my birthday a few days ago (Tuesday exactly) and I took my sister and her best friend to the movies with me after I got done with my last class that day because I had to pick them up anyway, so why not. We watched The Greatest Showman. It was so good, but my sister and her bestie kept talking and giggling the entire time, taking pictures on Snapchat... I wanted to punch their faces in so many times during the movie lmao 😂😂😂 One of my biggest pet peeves. I can't stand it.

Oh well! Have a good time reading his chapter. Point out my errors. I always miss little things and it's annoying. Vote, comment, and share it with all your friends. Enjoy!

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"She cussed," Rome gasps as his pathetic dog barks. Addy visibly gulps when I lay my hands flat on the table and rise to my feet slowly like a predator ready to pounce on her.

          "Athena," Jackson's calm, contained voice enters my ears. "Calm down."

          Shunning him completely, I shove daggers into Addy's chest with my bare eyes. Scared, she quickly gets off her seat and tries to scurry away, but I grab the back of her t-shirt and drag her into the room, slamming the door shut behind us.

          "What the hell is wrong with you?" I scream in rage, my voice loud and wild. At this point, I could care less about what the boys on the other side can hear. All I want to do is rip her head off for demanding that. For even thinking of something I'd never dream of, let alone act on. But I hold back and eye her warily.

"Just hear me out, then do whatever you want, okay?" She negotiates as if this topic is even up for a debate.

          "You're delusional if you think this is going to be discussed," I seethe, danger lurking in my voice. "You don't go near Mom or even think about it. Or else I'll lock you up in a room and keep you there forever." My teeth grit together. "Don't tempt me, Adena."

          "Stop being dramatic and just listen to my offer," she yells.

          "Offer?" I snort incredulously. "Do you hear yourself or have you completely lost your damn mind this time? How could you even think of this?"

          "Oh, c'mon, Athena." She rolls her eyes at me like a brat and plops down onto the bed. "She's going to drop dead one of these days. You and I both know that. She shouldn't have lived this long anyway."

          "So, you're going to forcefully kill her because she hasn't died on her own yet?" I shout in anger, astounded at her weak explanation.

          "It's a miracle that she has even lived this far," she says in her defense. "A few years is what the doctors gave her after being diagnosed. It's been more than ten years now."

"If she was in her sixties or seventies, those years would apply to her, but she's barely in her forties and in good health, so she'll live long." I throw obvious facts in her face as I burden my right foot and balance most of my weight on it. "Stop trying to kill her."

"We can end it and put her out of her misery once and for all," she argues again, and I can only shake my head at her futile attempt to convince me. "Think about it, Athena. You promised me anything and this is what I want."

"She's not miserable. She's happy there and living her life." I straighten my spine, crossing my arms below my breasts. "I know I promised you anything, but killing Mom is never happening. I'll happily give you Eros. Take him. Mom stays where she is."

"I don't fucking want Eros." She scrunches her nose in annoyance, shaking her head. "If you think I do, you don't know anything about me at all. I'm not into that man. I just don't want Mom to suffer everyday."

          "And who the hell said she was suffering?" I gawk at her, amazed by the stories her deranged mind is cooking up. "She's absolutely fine, other than the obvious."

          "And when she's lucid, does she not remember Fabian?" Her brows knit together furiously. "Fabian brainwashed me and made me think that Mom took up drugs and everything on her own which made me hate her, but she was the victim. She always was, and so were you."

"She's barely ever lucid, so why are you worrying about it now after all these years." Wondering, I take a step forward as she haphazardly brushes her hair back. "Why now?"

Letting out a forced sigh, she glances up at me. The weariness and defeat clinging onto her tense muscles is almost palpable. "I was all alone for the past few years, and you probably know how that feels." Her eyes stick to the floor as her fingers fumble with one another in her lap. "I had a lot of time to myself to just think without any distractions." She gazes up, her eyes a bit teary. "Fabian started drugging Mom because he found out that we weren't his kids, and our Mama dearest kept it a secret from him. You were a victim somehow too. You never told me what he did to you, but I have a guess."

          My body stiffens a bit as I inhale deeply while leaning back against the door. "And what may your guess be?"

          She swallows hard, frowning deeply. "You were there the night he tried to molest me." Her voice cracks before she pauses for a brief second only to quicken my heartbeat. "Did he put his hands on you, Athena?"

My heart drops to the bottom of my pit as I stare at her blankly. I'm torn between telling her the entire story now, or lie and save her the torment of my hell. I've always kept her safe from it all, and I always will. I promised Mom I'd never tell her. Right now, it's no different either. Whatever I've been through isn't her business, nor does she have to cry over it for me. When I needed saving from that disgusting pig, I was helpless. And now I'm the strongest I've ever been, and he can never ruin that.

Sauntering forward, I sit down next to her and sigh. "Addy, why are you bringing this up? He did what he did. We can't change it. He hurt Mom. That was it. That's as far as it goes. You were going to get raped by him, and luckily, I was awake and happened to be there."

She snorts, letting out a frustrated laugh. "I'm not stupid," she grits out, her eyes darting to mine. "He raped you, didn't he?"

"Stop." I groan in exasperation and roll my eyes, absolutely and utterly disgusted by that word and the direction this conversation is headed to. "You got sidetracked. Tell me what you want. Mom stays out of the loop though."

          As if I just spouted out gibberish, she ignores me, shaking her head with tears cascading down her cheeks. "You don't tell me anything. Nothing at all," she sniffles. "I bet we have different fathers because of our whore of a mother."

I can't help but laugh at her remark. Whore is what Mama dearest was without a doubt. She fooled around behind Fabian's back with the same man and got pregnant with me, then Addy. Her infidelity drove Fabian to insanity which exploded the hellgate he shoved us down. So, she's partly responsible for my horrific adolescent years.

          "We have the same father," I sigh. "You and I both know that, so there's no point in throwing more dirt on her."

          "Fathers are shit," Addy croaks out. "Fabian turned out to be an asshole, and so did our real one. Fucking men!"

          Pinching the bridge of my nose, I release a yawn. "I'm really tired and don't have the patience to deal with your daddy issues. Just tell me what you want, Addy."

"You're such a shitty sister," she quips, wiping away her tears.

"A shitty daughter, sister, friend, boss. Just a shitty person in general. I know." I face her and grit my teeth. "I know you have an agenda behind all the soppy waterworks. Just tell me what the hell you want."

"If that's how you want to play, so be it. I'm giving you two options." She turns her body on the bed and faces me completely. "I want Mom dead."

"No."

"Or she's coming home with us."

"And no." I shake my head, outright refusing her demand. "Are you on crack?"

Her jaw twitches ever so slightly. "Pick one, Athena. Mom dead or home. I'd go with the latter if I were you."

          "She's perfectly fine there," I argue and mount up from the bed, completely done with this conversation. "She doesn't need to come home."

          Rising from the bed, she maneuvers around me and blocks the door with her body. "Why not, Athena? Because of Fabian?"

          "He's still out there."

          "You had almost ten years to find him, and you haven't." She laughs mockingly. "He's probably rotting at the bottom of the ocean for all we know. Fabian can't hurt her. You're just making up excuses now."

          "I'm already allowing one crazy to stay at my damn place. I don't need the burden of another one. My life is already hectic enough." I push her out of my way, and speak over my shoulder, "She's staying where she can be taken care of properly."

Before I can exit the room, she hauls me back by my forearm. "Trust me. I can take care of her."

"You just wanted to kill her a minute ago."

          "Give the worst scenario before the better one, you know?" She shrugs, her eyes watching me tentatively.

          "God, Addy! You can barely take care of yourself." I violently jerk her hold off. "How the hell do you think you can take care of her?"

"Just 'cause I act out around you and make your life hell on purpose, doesn't mean that I'm actually a nutjob." She hastily grabs my shoulders and squeezes them tightly. "Athena, please. I want her home. We've spent so many years without her. I just want you, me, and her together in one place like a normal family."

          I laugh at the irony of the last part there. "We're not normal. We're anything but that. You're crazy. Mom is cuckoo in the head. And I'm a bloody psychotic bitch. We are a family of crazies that cannot survive together."

          "I just need this one thing. That's it," she pleads, grabbing my hands. "I can take care of her while you're at work. Your maids can also help me. You won't have to worry about anything." Her hold tightens in a desperate effort. "C'mon, it'll be fun. You, me, and her, all together. She's a new person everyday, if not every second. She thought she was in a brothel and I was a hooker when I last saw her." She let out a soft chuckle before pursing her lips into a thin line and frowning. "This is the only thing I want. I won't ever ask you for anything. I promise."

***

(Eros' POV)

"Athena needs a good fuck real quick," Addy yells in annoyance and saunters out the room, taking a seat between Rome and Jack on the sofa.

          "Fine." Rome rolls his eyes, placing his puppy in Addy's lap and standing up. "I'll take one for the team."

Before I can shut his ass down, Ms. Estle's voice bellows. "Don't make me shoot you, Rome." She walks out the room and sits in her usual seat, prompting me to finally breathe normally.

Ever since she screamed in rage, my heartbeat became irregular. She was crimson in that moment, angrier than I've ever seen her, but now she seems a bit calm, still irritated though. Leaving my seat, I slide into the one opposite hers, but she doesn't spare me a glance and stares out the window at the clouds below us. Propping my elbows on the table between us, I rest my chin over my knuckles and watch her silently for a few seconds. "You okay?" I ask in a soft tone.

"Don't bug me, Mr. Azallion," she mumbles without looking at me while clenching her fist on the table. "I'm not in the mood."

          "I want a Ferrari, Athena, and a mansion on the beach," Addy begins listing off her demands as her older sister sighs. "Maybe a Maserati too. A couple of clubs here and a casino in Vegas. I think that's it for now."

          Ms. Estle sticks out her head to look at her babbling sister. "Eat shit," she says in the most monotonous manner and returns her head back to the same position while everyone else laughs, including Addy.

          Smiling to myself, I lay my palm over Ms. Estle's fist and slowly unfold it. Her hazel green eyes dart to me, a bit skeptical, and her chest lifts and settles at a slow pace. My fingers massage hers, surely sending warm and relaxing sensations up her arm. Her tense shoulders slouch back against the cream colored leather seat as a weak smile emerges on her luscious lips that I haven't kissed in days. Our eyes stay glued to one another, and so do our intertwined hands for the remaining of the flight.

          When the jet finally lands an hour or so later, we step outside into the chilly air whooshing past us. Two limos are lined up one after another for us with numerous men standing around in black suits and a bunch of other black cars. The Estle sisters climb into the first vehicle while Jack, Rome, and I get into the one behind them.

          Tired would be an understatement for how I feel right now. My body is aching, my head a bit drowsy and drained of any energy. Rome has already passed out on the seat, leaving me to look after the dog whose new name I don't know. After a while, the limo screeches to a stop along with multiple cars behind us. I kick Rome and wake him up before stumbling out of the vehicle. My jaw drops at the sight before my eyes. The architecture standing in front of me is humongous and enchanting like a castle.

          "Look, Bark Vader," Rome gasps next to me, pointing at the magnificent building with the pup curled up in his arms. "We're in Disneyland."

Shaking my head at him, I saunter closer to the sisters that are chatting with a few men. "Take the boys to their rooms, and show Adena hers too," Ms. Estle orders the men and continues on in Italian. One of the black suited men answers back in the same language, urging me and Rome to just look at each other in confusion.

"Can I come?" Addy chirps up in excitement.

"No," Ms. Estle refuses and starts walking toward the gates of the heavily guarded fortress. "I need to speak to zio alone. You should sleep and meet everyone when the sun comes up."

She struts down with men following her like dogs, her beautiful ass swaying from one side to another so effortlessly and elegantly that it makes my heart hurt in bliss. Shit! This woman can have me by my dick if she pleases and I wouldn't argue at all. I'm a fucking goner.

We enter the ginormous property and saunter past the impressive double doors that are the size of me, but only three times more. The bright lights violate my tired eyes ruthlessly with the intensity to blind me completely.

          "Have you guys ever seen something so beautiful that you just want to cry?" I hear Rome sniffle next to me like a bitch as the pup whines. "Bark Vader definitely understands my emotions."

          "Follow me," a man says and we comply without wasting a second.

"Do you sometimes just feel like strangling your sibling?" Addy fumes, crossing her arms and stomping next to me.

"I do," Rome declares. "I want to beat the shit out of both of them sometimes."

Almost immediately, I slap the back of his head and glare. "Can you ever shut up?"

"Both?" Addy's voice gets a little pitchy in curiosity. "Do we have an Azallion sister?"

"Brother actually," Rome informs her, and I don't even bother shutting him up. He's going to babble one way or another, and I'm too fucking tired to bust his balls. "Oldest."

          "Ah, interesting." Addy smirks in amusement. "Where's he?"

          "No fucking clue," Rome sighs. "He just bailed on us a while back."

          "Name?"

          "Roland."

          "If you want, I can find him for you." Addy bites her lower lip, a bit too excited for the task. "It'll only take me five minutes tops."

          "How about no?" I butt in and give Rome a hard look.

          "Shame." She rolls her eyes. "It would've been fun."

***

          Last night was a bit of a blur. I just remember walking in, removing all my clothes and passing out like a dog from all the hustling around at the show and then the flight. Stretching my body under the soft sheets, I sit up straight and admire the room I'm occupying for my stay here. A chandelier is dangling above my head attached to the tall ceiling along with beautiful patterns scattered all around it. This is definitely bigger than my room in Ms. Estle's penthouse. Very spacious and open.

          Hopping off the comfortable bed, I walk into the bathroom which is also very classy like everything in this damn place. I quickly shower and get ready before walking out into the wide and long hallway, looking around like an idiot. I have no idea where the fuck to go. They should have a map around here to help people like me find their way around here.

          "Look who it is." I turn around at the voice and see Gus standing at the end of the long hallway with a smug tilt in his posture. "I heard you guys were here."

          "What's up?" I nod and meet him halfway. "Nice place."

          "Right," he laughs, glancing around. "Haven't been here in years. Finally got an excuse because of my sister."

          "Fifteenth birthday, right?"

          "Tradition," he smirks. "You should come see the ceremony tomorrow. Your mind will be blown."

          "I have nowhere else to be." I slide my hands into the pockets of my pants. "I need a guide around here to show me the kitchen. I'm starving."

          "You're not full from eating Athena out?" He cackles out loud as Rome suddenly joins him coming up behind me.

          "Duck, duck, Gus!" Addy screams, grasping our attention.

          "Addy?" Gus gasps as the girl sprints in his direction and climbs on him, hugging him tightly. "Oh my God. You're really here."

          "In the flesh," she giggles and pulls away. "Looking fresh, aren't you!"

          "Always," he smirks at her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "How you been? Shit! It's been so long."

          "Now I'm back and better than ever. We're going to have so much fun," she grins and looks at me. "When did you eat Athena out anyway?"

          "I'm never living this down, am I?" I shake my head as they laugh and start walking down the hall.

          "I actually walked in on them," Rome, being the immature asshole that he is, blurts it out nonchalantly.

          "I'd say cockblock." I smack the back of his head and continue, "And you didn't see anything."

          "I may have seen a titty or two," Rome winks at me, laughing pathetically.

          "Keep lying, little bitch," I chide. "That's all you can do."

***

          After finishing the breakfast, we all hang around in an arcade room, chatting and laughing. Wren joins us a while later and so does Ray. Two hours or so pass by with Addy catching up on everything she has missed while I've been thinking about Ms. Estle who has yet to make an appearance.

          "I woke up early and met everyone," Addy grins like a child. "All the bitchy and assholish cousins too. The place is swarming with them all."

          "I hate each one," Gus groans, blowing out a puff of smoke and passing the cigarette to his brother. "Well, most of them."

          "And I'm one of your cousins," Ray shakes his head and snatches the cigarette from Wren's fingers.

          "Fuck you!" Gus and Wren snarl in unison at Ray who snickers to himself whilst taking a drag of the cigarette before Addy grabs it from him and puts it to her lips.

          "Where's Athena?" Addy queries, handing me the cig. "I haven't seen her all day."

          Taking a pull, I slowly breathe out the smoke and pass it to Rome. "She was talking to Father earlier this morning," Gus informs with a shrug.

          "She's with Lina right now," Wren chimes in. "Talking her into tomorrow."

          "And where may she be talking to her?" I ask out of curiosity.

          "Why? Itching to go down on her again?" Wren snickers.

          I snort. "Actually, your brother asked me to look after her. Make sure she's okay."

          "She's probably in Lina's room," Gus says after another pull.

          "I can take you," Addy volunteers, pulling me up to my feet by my arm and dragging me out the door. We silently enter one of the elevators and ascend to the third floor of the castle. "Do you like her?" she asks out of the blue.

          "Huh?" I narrow my eyes at her when we exit the metallic containment.

          "Stop acting dumb." She slaps my arm. "Do you like Athena?"

          I laugh. "I guess."

          "It's either yes or no, idiot. No guessing."

          "I do."

          "Do you love her?"

          "No." I shake my head immediately and look at her when she stops in her tracks. Her suspicious eyes and arched brows scrutinize me, prompting me to say, "I don't know."

          "Yes, you do," she giggles, hooking her arm around mine and resuming the walk. "You clearly love her. Everyone can see it. I don't think Leo would assign you as her personal caretaker if he didn't see it too."

          "So, he approves of an escort for her."

          She lets out a laugh. "Sweetheart, Leo has many sides to him. He's impossible to read which is scary, but when it comes to family, he doesn't take any chances, and we're family. Not blood related, but family nonetheless." A sweet smile slowly captures her mouth. "He sees something in you. You'd be dead if you were just a worthless boy trying to get close to Athena, but you're clearly alive. Leo is like that with his actual sisters and cousins. Anyone tries to hurt them, he'll literally rain hell upon them."

          "I'll try not to hurt anyone," I laugh awkwardly and clear my throat.

          A chuckle surpasses her lips as we continue sauntering through hallways. "Athena likes you. She keeps men at arm's length, but you're a bit different for her. I can see that." She sighs as a somber expression takes over her features. "My sister has been through a lot, Eros. I just want to see her happy. We may fight like cats and dogs all the time, but I can give up my life for her. She means the world to me, and I want nothing more than her to be happy. Can you do that for me?"

          I smile and stroke her arm that is wrapped around mine. "I can make her happy if she allows me. She's very uptight if you haven't noticed."

          "Tell me about it," she rolls her eyes and snickers. "But I trust you. You got this, Enrique."

          "I just needed Ena's blessings. Now, I'm all good to go."

          We laugh and stop. Addy looks past me and points down the hall. "Walk down the hall and take a right. Lina's room should be the second to the last one on the left side of the hallway. I have to say hi to someone back there. I'll see you in a few minutes, pussy-eater."

          "A proud one," I wink at her and smirk.

          "And don't tell Athena whatever I just told you, or else I'll slit your throat in your sleep, okay?"

          She begins backing away as I laugh. "You got it." Shaking my head, I follow her directions and see Ms. Estle talking to a man who is faced away from me. As I get closer, their voices become louder and I can hear everything.

          "You've lost you mind, Gabriele," Ms. Estle grits out and glances at me briefly. She subtly motions me to get out of here, but for some reason I stand my ground and frown due to the tension brewing between the two.

          The man turns around and eyes me head to toe with nothing but repulsion. "Is he one of the men you've fucked too?" His British accent echoes off the walls and makes me clench my fists. "And you won't give me a chance?" He turns back to her, wrapping his fingers around her wrist. "C'mon, Athena."

(Brant Daugherty as Gabriele Drago. 😍 Can we just appreciate his hotness for a second? Noel Kahn anyone? 😏)

          My face grows red as he continues to harass her, but she tries to wave me away instead. "Mr. Azallion, please leave."

          "That's what I'm saying." The man laughs and looks at me over his shoulder. "Listen to the lass and leave, mate. I have some business to finish with her. Ain't that right, sweetheart?" He pins her to the wall and smashes his lips against hers forcefully.

          My anger hits the fan within less than a second, urging me to leap forward at him, but before I can save her from the sexual predator, she throws him back. Her cheeks burn crimson in immense rage as her hands ball up into fists, but for some unknown reason she's holding back, and that's bothering me more than anything. I instantly step in front of her and act as her shield when he tries to come for her. My hand on his chest pushes him back, driving a glare out of him.

          "Gabriele," Ms. Estle sightly scoots me to the side and talks to the man. "Walk away. Don't make me call Leo."

          "And what is he going to do?" He lets out a belly laugh. "Protect his little whore? I bet you went through him, Wren, and Gus. Did they stick it in you good? Or was Federigo the best out of all?"

          Ms. Estle has enough and lurches forward, punching his face with brutal force that almost has the man falling to the floor. She grabs his jaw and steadies it, digging her nails into his flesh. "Listen to me very carefully, you spineless cunt," she spits through her teeth slowly. "Just because I'm not saying anything doesn't mean I can't rip you to shreds. The only reason I'm holding back is because of your pathetic grandmother. Take your disgusting accusations and throw it at some worthless slut, not me. Pull this shit again and I will fucking kill you."

          Slapping her hand away, he pushes her back and raises his hand to hit her, but I grab it just in time and pound my fist into his face. He swings back at me before I slam his head into the wall twice in a row.

          "Eros, stop!" Ms. Estle demands, but I ignore her and continue throwing my fists at him while he gets a couple hits on me.

          "Why are you bothering for the whore?" he asks when I knock him to the floor.

          "She's not a whore!" I growl, slamming my fist to his face repeatedly until he bleeds profusely.

          He fights back by kicking me off him and sending me flying back. "You have no bloody idea who you're messing with. I'm going to kill you." Pulling out a gun from the waistband of his suit pants, he aims it at me and rests his finger on the trigger. Before he can pull it, Ms. Estle disarms him and points the gun at me herself.

          My lips part in bewilderment at her sudden move. "What are you doing?"

          "You shouldn't have done that." Pain engulfs her face before she lets out a shaky breath and pulls the trigger. The bullet from the gun pierces through my flesh, and the intensity of the blow forces me to fall back. The agony from the wound to my shoulder doesn't waste a second to spread through my body like a wildfire, burning my blood like volcanic lava. And the shock of it all has me paralyzed, even struggling to breathe as I watch her get closer to me and crouch down by my side silently. "I'm sorry," she whispers before knocking me out and darkening my world.

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Yay or nay?

Do you guys think Athena agreed to bringing her mother home? If not, should she?

And Athena shot Eros... Why would she do that? Was she in the right to do so? Poor Eros. 😭

Much love ❤️
~Reet